PANAJI
With an increasing number of private vehicles being rented out for commercial purposes, the State government, ahead of the new tourism season, has decided to seize or confiscate all such illegally rented vehicles, starting from next month.
Speaking to media persons, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho admitted that with the government imposing a ban on issuing new permits for rent-a-cab facilities, more and more people are seen renting out their private vehicles to tourists. “This is completely illegal,” he said.
Following a series of road accidents, including fatal ones, involving rented vehicles driven by tourists, the State government, since April, has stopped issuing new licenses for rent-a-cab.
Godinho said that directions would be issued to the transport department to initiate a special drive from next month to seize or confiscate all those private vehicles that are found rented out for commercial purposes.
“It is important that we take some serious steps. We will seize the vehicles and will ensure that they are not handed back to the owners for at least some time,” the Minister added.
Godinho said that it is important for tourists to learn some discipline as far as road safety and the law are concerned.
“Tourists come to Goa, take a rent-a-cab or private vehicle on hire, and then teach Goans how to drive. Things need to be put in place,” he said.
Last year, in October, the transport department had launched a similar drive, wherein action was taken against illegally rented-out private vehicles to tourists. The government had even warned of suspending the licenses of vehicle owners who rent out their vehicles.
The new tourism season is set to commence from next month, October. The State has witnessed several fatalities involving rented vehicles by tourists.
PWD officials not serious on road accidents: Min
PANAJI: Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Tuesday was critical of officials of the Public Works Department (PWD) who he alleged were not serious on playing their role in tackling the problem of road accidents.
Godinho said, at a recent meeting of the Road Safety Committee, the PWD chief engineer stayed away and there was no representative of the department.
“Road accidents is an issue which is everyone’s responsibility. The Transport Department is trying to prevent accidents. A meeting of the Road Safety Committee was held a few days ago. The Principal Chief Engineer of PWD was absent,” Godinho said.
The transport minister who was interacting with the media said, that the PCE’s absence from the meeting shows that they (PWD) are not serious.
He said, he has urged the Chief Secretary to take serious note of officials who stay absent from Road Safety Committee meetings and pull them up.
Godinho also said that the PWD engineers should be held accountable for the poor condition of roads in the State.
“Death due to road potholes is inexcusable. This responsibility belongs to the engineers of PWD. Rainfall is always high in the State. So it is wrong to blame the rain every time,” Godinho said.
“We have been sanctioned funds by the Center for road safety measures. Nearly 50 percent of the accidents occur at black spots,” Godinho said.
